The Man in the Moon

I first was introduced to the man in the moon, when I was a baby and my parents excitedly pointed my focus to the big round shiny thing in the sky. As I grew into a kid, this posed some questions. The normal ones, like, why is the moon small and the sun so big that it can light up a side of the earth? Is the moon like a night light compared to the big light in a room? Then as the grown ups keep talking about this man in the moon, you start to question who he is? Why is he on the moon? It looks very barren, plus no one to talk to or play with. This was the saddest thing imaginable for a child. Then because I felt sorry for him, I started to talk to the man in the moon and read him stories. Seemed a logical thing to do. I showed him puzzles and paintings from my window. Sat on the roof and sang to him. Asked about things that had confused me during the daylight hours, hoping he might have an answer. He never talked to me, but I could feel his happiness or unhappiness in my chest. Then I grew up, made friends and had a bit less time to talk with the man in the moon. I was a teenager and trying to socialise with my peer group. 

I think the man in the moon got hurt by me not having time anymore. I’d smile at the moon and talk to other people about how pretty it was, but would no longer talk directly to the man in the moon. I could feel him angrily spying on my dreams and inviting monsters to infiltrate the calmness. I could feel him pushing others away from me and hearing them whisper that I was too odd to be a friend. I felt the world start to neglect me and as I cried, I could feel the man in the moon laughing at me, taking delight at the same supposed emotions that I had made him feel. I asked why he would be so cruel, but he refused to answer. I felt the coldness and hurt, like when you bump into an ex and have to tolerate their presence, but refuse to acknowledge them. 

It felt like he owned me. A selfish two year old that couldn’t share. Didn’t want to allow anyone else to even see his toy. 

The man in the moon is hard to avoid as he is everywhere. But I only had to be weary during full moons, where he could easily find me or those I cared about. I closed the curtains and went to bed early, but unfortunately he can sometimes be spying in the day as well. Each time he’s caught sight of me, a random bad thing happens, which appear to be random events. I understand the odd mistake, bad dream or person acting cranky. But he grew meaner the older I got. When he couldn’t seperate me from people through his realm of dreams, he began killing them. All appearing ‘natural’, but unlikely. The term coincidence could be used in these odd circumstances, but I know the truth. They always happen when the moon is full and he catches a glimpse of me, as if reminded. 

There were a few theories that the man in the moon was actually Cain from the bible, who was the first murderer. He killed his brother, then was cursed to forever circle the Earth. This seems quite a logical explanation of the moons orbit. Others say the man in the moon was banished for some other reason. But knowing the man in the moon as I do, I think he has a scary dark side, which the Earth can’t see from our perspective. Obviously, you can’t ask the police to protect you because the moon is going to kill you or someone you love. The police are just going to assume you’re on drugs or delusional. 

The man in the moon caught sight of me again. Tonight will be full of terror. He’s been appearing in my dreams, more, as if ramping up to something. He has the big round moon head, except the face has new diverts to become like a frown. He has a very skinny body and longer legs and arms then seem natural. He wears a red and white striped suit with tails and a darker red bow tie. He has yellow long finger claw hands which look sharp. He’s really tall and has to almost bend in half to fit through the door. I know he is waiting for me to scream, but I sit stubbornly and wait for him to reach his long claw finger towards me. He wants me to run away screaming, but I look at him, sadly. 

“You took too much Man in the Moon, I can’t forgive you this time,” I say softly as a tear falls down my cheek and rolls off my jaw. The pain he caused, making me not fear death. His response is to grin his nightmare pointy sharp teeth at me in glee. “I don’t think we were ever really friends if you can do this to me, I think you just pretended. You’re just a cruel monster and I banish you back to your lonely moon, where you can spend a friendless existence.”

The moon paused in thought, then suddenly vanished from my dream. I felt my breath come more naturally and smiled as I opened my eyes. Going to the window I opened the curtains and the full bright moon shone into my bedroom. I pulled a face at it and giggled at the impulse. Turning my back on it, allowing my eyes to adjust to the rooms  darkness. The now seen burglar then covers the space between me and the dresser. He stabs me on my right side. He exits as I clumsily try to hold the wound closed, as I lie back on the bed, managing to get emergency services on the phone as blood seeps into my bed. I look out the window and see the man in the moon smiling at me. A voice on my phone is yelling about something, but I just mumble as I fall asleep, “Touche, Man in the Moon”…

…

Remember kids, that the Man in the Moon, even with his bright smile, shouldn’t be trusted. 

So, when he looks lonely or sad and you feel like talking with him. 

Always remember that he was banished from Earth for a reason…